Sitting on the dock of the bay: Tour Sausalito’s floating homes

Ever imagined what it must be like to wake up in the morning and look out your window to see a view of the bay, the water lapping just a few feet away? Or have you been to Sausalito and wondered about the community of house boats at the northern end of town? If you are curious or just looking for something to do this weekend, tomorrow is your lucky day. From 11am – 4pm on Saturday, September 25th, the Floating Homes Association will host their annual tour of a few select homes that call the bay their home. For tour and ticket information, visit their website: Floating Homes Association

Sausalito’s Floating Homes

For those who have seen these floating homes, it conjures up the usual question – are these boats or homes?

As a floating home, these houses do just that – they “float” on Richardson Bay. According to Sausalito’s Floating Homes Association website, these homes have no “…means of self propulsion,” – meaning they can’t sail or speed away like a boat. All of the homes have a permanent berth which homeowners are charged a monthly berthage fee – similar to fee paid for a mobile home at a mobile home parks – and pay property taxes. All possess all the utilities and amenities a traditional house has. There may not be a grassy back yard to tumble around, but for those with a sea faring wanderlust or a love affair with water, this is more than a fair exchange.

In it’s 29th year, the Floating Homes tour is an annual 1-day event where visitors can take self guided tours of about 20 homes. The entire community is comprised of approximately 400 homes spread on 5 marinas. Unlike your average Bay Area community, this little pocket in Sausalito is a colorful one, as the roots of this lifestyle were planted in the 1800s, when artists, shipbuilders and writers lived aboard their boats, causally anchored and “floating” on the bay. Each home has its unique personality and character, much influenced by the passions and affinities of its owners. The tour offers visitors the chance to sample this unique community and speak with homeowners about the floating home lifestyle.